SUNRISE The last televised glimpse of Panthers General Manager Dale Tallon was of him face down on his suite desk in BankAtlantic Center after watching Devils rookie Adam Henrique suddenly end his overhauled team’s surprising season with a goal in double overtime of Game 7 of an Eastern Conference quarterfinal.

After five days of digestion or more accurately indigestion, an upbeat Tallon strolled into the ice-less BankAtlantic Center with his head held high ready to discuss the positive ripple effects from a turnaround season in which the Panthers jumped from 15th in their conference to a division championship while ending a 12-year playoff drought.

“I get involved in every game,’’ Tallon said Tuesday morning. “It’s disappointing, but bittersweet. We had a great year, but a tough way to lose.

“[The players] weren’t satisifed with the year and that’s the great thing, so we’ll build and we’ll use this as a motivator for next year.

“But we sent a message to everybody in the hockey world that this is the place to be. We really are going to move forward and be a championship team eventually, and this is a fun place to be.’’

Part of Tallon’s ‘blueprint’ for success is to bring in hungry players, who’ve yet to scratch the surface of their potential, with outgoing personalities that helps unify a dressing room during a long, grueling season.

Mission accomplished, as eight players achieved career milestones in either goals, assists and points or a combination of the three.

“We’re probably ahead of schedule as far as this year went,’’ Tallon said. “The good news is we got to the playoffs, won our division, a lot of guys had career years and we’ve got a good, strong nucleus now that we could add some really good young pieces to as we move forward.’’

Before Tallon incorporates those, “young pieces,’’ such as goalie Jacob Markstrom, forwards Jonathan Huberdeau, Quinton Howden and John McFarland, as well as defensemen Alex Petrovic and Colby Robak, he and assistant Mike Santos have to decide which of his seven free agents and three restricted free agents to re-sign.

Tallon admitted that RFA forward Kris Versteeg, who notched a career-high 23 goals and 54 points despite playing the last two months with a hip injury that will require surgery this week, as well as free-agent defenseman Jason Garrison, are top priorities. Garrison’s breakthrough season included a career-high 16 goals, including nine power-play goals.

“After our exit meetings we had great conversations,’’ Tallon said. “They want to be here and we want them here. Hopefully, we can get some things done.’’

Tallon said that free-agent forward Mikael Samuelsson, 35, who had 28 points in 48 games, is a player he’d like to keep to mentor the prospects.

It’s doubtful the Panthers will be able to keep several other free agents such as John Madden, Marco Sturm, Wotjek Wolski, Krys Barch or backup goalie Scott Clemmensen, although Tallon said one never has enough “depth in goal.’’

Tallon said when free agency hits on July 1 he will be seeking goal scorers to help bolster the Panthers’ offense, which was 27th in goals and 28th when skating 5-on-5. The Panthers, lacking skill players, also matched an NHL record with 18 post-regulation losses, not counting two season-ending OT losses in the playoffs.

“[We’ll be] as active as we can be, but we have to make room for some of our young guys,’’ Tallon said. “I’d like to score more goals so my stomach won’t be as tied up in knots.’’

Because the Panthers had the 14th-best record in the league, they won’t pick until 17th of the first round of the June 22-23 draft after selecting third the past two years (Erik Gudbranson and Huberdeau), however, Tallon is still confident they’re going to, “get a good player.’’

“The great thing is we won’t be in the front row, we’ll be closer to the back row and that’s where we want to be for the rest of our careers,’’ Tallon joked.

Comments (4 Comments)

If I were Tallon, I wouldn’t waste any money on Wolski as the guy is quite expensive for his production or lack thereof.

Like Tallon says, you can never have enough goaltending. Clemmer did a good job this year. I wouldn’t mind resigning him to a really cheap contract, provided that he’s willing to sign a really cheap contract. Markstrom is the up and coming goalie of our future, but he seems kinda injury prone.

I hope RFA Versteeg is resigned to a fair contract, although, I wouldn’t mind using him as trade bait for a really good and more expensive sniper (e.g., Rick Nash). Tallon can use the millions saved by not resigning Samuelson (sorry to see him go but this is a bizniz) and Sturm. Don’t get me wrong, I like Versteeg, but if we can get someone bigger and better, then so be it! Versteeg, Weiss, and Flash are on the smallish side and they sometimes get pushed around. Before Barch was signed, Kopecky and Matthias were “tough” offensemen. Thank goodness for Jovo and Gudbranson.

I hope Garrison is resigned, but the “anticipated” $5M per year seems exepensive. We have sole negotiating rights with him until Jul 1.

Tallon- don’t waste your money on Madden or Sturm, and try to trade Ellerby so he doesn’t ride the bench anymore.

I agree with much of what EJ wrote except Garrison should be resigned even if its 5 million.He is a premium defenceman with many years left.I would use Kulikov as trade bait and get rid of Ellerby.Samuelson should get a one year contract.He improved our power play and he is a very crafty player.Santorelli is useless as are Sturm and Madden unless they come REAL cheap.We need a tough guy like Barch.Smithson was great on faceoffs and Upshall didnt do much but I think they have long term contracts.I dont know about theos contract but I hope he is back next year.Clemmer ok if the price is right.

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About the author

HARVEY FIALKOV, a tennis-playing sportswriter who grew up in Long Island following the dynastic Islanders, is the new Panthers beat writer for the Sun Sentinel and looking forward to writing about the best professional sports team in Broward County.